Frustrations starting to show in un-Steelers-like start

It’s a good thing they still have the iconic black and yellow uniforms, and all those trophies in the case.

Because at the moment, the Steelers don’t look very much like, well, the Steelers.

The frustrations are already beginning to build after their 20-10 loss to the Bengals last night and their first 0-2 start since 2002 — meaning neither coach Mike Tomlin nor quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have ever experienced it.

“We are a frustrated group right now,” Tomlin said, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We got work to do. There’s a certain amount of misery that comes with the position we’re in. We’re aware of it.”

Part of the problem is, the traditional things they’ve relied on in the past aren’t there anymore.

It was just the second time in 13 games they’ve lost at Cincinnati.

The Steelers have always been a run/stop-the-run team, and they’re doing neither well at the moment. They had 44 on the ground, but watched the Bengals put up 127.

For the second straight game, they produced no turnovers on defense, and the only sack they have this season came last week.

That had some players circling the wagons and some worried about the immediacy of their problems.

“We still have 14 games left,” wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said. “There is no need to panic. We’re not in trouble.”

“If we don’t shore some things up,” safety Ryan Clark said, “if we don’t play better than we played tonight, we won’t win A game.”

The thought of the Steelers being 0-16 seems ridiculous. But so does the thought of them doing the things they’ve always done so well so poorly now.

That’s what you get when you part with people you think you can do without: Arians, Mendenhall and bunchwise with veterans. It’s ok to get rid of people as long as you have better people. But Haley? Jones? Dwyer?

The Steelers were ranked #3 in rushing in 2007….since then they’ve been only as high as #11 in 2010, twice in the bottom 7 of the league.

I don’t think what they need is a devastating rush attack….they just need some rushing attack. Any rushing attack.

If Bell comes back healthy and stays that way I think we’ll get a better feel for where they’re heading then were getting right now. It still may be down but I think it’s a bit early to write them off just yet.

No need to panic Steelers’ fan. Your offense is improving. You scored 3 more points than last week. Your defense is awesome. You only gave up 20 points and 127 yards rushing. Big Ben is clutch. He only threw one interception when it mattered the most. I wouldn’t worry about being completely shut out in the 2nd half. So, keep talking smack about the Ravens. At least you lead the NFL in that statistic.

6ball says:Sep 17, 2013 7:44 AM

..

The Steelers fronts on both offense and defense used to be ” silent but deadly ”. Now they are mainly silent.

I hope the Steelers keep losing. While I dislike the team, I hate the trolls who come on other posts and make ignorant comments. While that old slow and porous O line gets Ben the Raper, inured the season will be over, and they’ll go away.

tv426 says:Sep 17, 2013 7:55 AM

This team hasn’t been that good in years and it is really catching up to them. Even the vaunted D was more a product of playing in a division that traditionally had horrible offenses (notice when they played good Os out of division extending back to Chower, they would get torched).

If they win 6 this year they should consider themselves lucky.

jayhawk6 says:Sep 17, 2013 8:04 AM

Aging starters, very untimely season ending injuries and salary cap issues would probably do the same thing to most other teams.

However, most other teams don’t have a legacy like that of the Steelers…so it frustrates and hurts.

schultzbrigade says:Sep 17, 2013 8:16 AM

Don’t worry about going 0-16 Steeler Nation, remember you have two games versus Cleveland.

It’s the second game in a row that Roethlisberger failed to score in double digits only getting seven points in each game.

In the first game special teams got the kickoff safety and Monday night Antonio Brown’s punt return gave them a field goal with Roethlisberger not even getting a first down.

To put it in perspective in week one the Bengals gave up 24 to the Bears and in week two the Titans gave up 30 to the Texans.

But Roethlisberger can make any defense look like the ’85 Bears.

pksullivanmha says:Sep 17, 2013 8:47 AM

Fascinating idea. 0 And 16.

bobzilla1001 says:Sep 17, 2013 9:00 AM

I am absolutely shocked that this decline is catching so many by surprise. How can so many watch a team so often and not know when things are headed in the wrong direction?
This decline started in 2011, when they couldn’t beat the good teams, continued into last season, when they couldn’t beat the bad teams, and has reached this point, seemingly unable to beat anyone.
The Steelers are 8-11 in their past 19 meaningful games. Let’s put to rest the naïve notion that as long as they have Roethlisberger (and Tomlin), the Steelers can’t be stopped.
Todd Haley will continue to be blamed for an offense that has struggled since 2008, and a lack of turnovers will continue to be blamed on a weakened defense that now has an insurance salesman at linebacker.
This team lacks depth, inspiration, leadership, talent and quality coaching. Beyond all of that, things couldn’t be better.

footballfan says:Sep 17, 2013 9:24 AM

Every team has to go through this whether they like it or not. The players get old, the draft gets weak, no money to sign free agents. You can call it Un-Steelers like all you want, but they had better get used to losing quickly! If they win more than 4 games this year it will be a miracle. Maybe they can finally get that first pick in the draft and blow it!

The so called “tripping” penalty on Beachum (it took the officials almost 30 seconds to discuss the call and the flag, like a few others in the game, should have been picked up and the call withdrawn) erased a 33 yard first down and some offensive rhythm but resulted instead a punt to the Bengals. In addition a flag that actually should have been thrown (unlike the “tripping” flag on Beachum) when Ben released a pass and a full second or more later was hit from behind by Bengal lineman and the official was standing less than 10 feet away.

Haley was a huge huge mistake.
Did anyone else see Ben waving back to the sidelines in frustration when players are coming into the huddle with plays ? It will never work between those two. Rooney, Tomlin blew it big time with letting go of Bruce Arians.

All-American Voltron says:Sep 17, 2013 9:56 AM

As a non-Steeler fan from the outside it seems pretty obvious that the conflict between Ben and Todd Haley was the reason last year and no matter how many ‘friendship’ statements are released they are still not getting along in a professional manner.

Being a Steeler fan it is as frustrating to watch as you can get. We have been competitive for a long time ,proof is all the nay Sayers when things go bad for the Steelers. Maybe this will be the time the Rooney’s don’t stick with a head coach for years. Haley and Tomlin should be on the hot seat.

I would just trade Ben and rebuild that means draft a new QB and everything Ben doesn’t deserve this! He shouldn’t have to play on terrible teams during his prime years! I say trade him to AZ move on a draft either Todd Boyd, Johnny Manziel, or Teddy Bridgewater. It’s the right thing to do.

“We are a frustrated group right now,” Tomlin said, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We got work to do. There’s a certain amount of misery that comes with the position we’re in. We’re aware of it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think Tomlin said that the Steelers felt “scalded” after not making the playoffs last year but I’m not sure what he said after they got Tebowed the year before.

In any case having already used up “frustrated” and “misery” in one sentence here is a list of words for the final 14 games and a bonus 15th word for when the Steelers miss the playoffs this year.

Paulson fumbled took points off the board, the bogus tripping most likely took points off the board, the no call face mask on the next play stopped the drive. The int was a bad pass and the tip by cotchery kept the ball in the air longer, points off the board. Woodly cosy 15 yard penalty. Ike can’t catch.
The line looked better. Mendenhall wouldn’t have done better. Too many dropped passes at the start. I expect 0-3.

Ben missed a lot of throws last night. It’s hard for the D to shut down an opponent when your offense can’t stay on the field. The play calling is horrible. It lacks creativity and doesn’t fit the personnel on the roster.
One more thing. Paulson should ride the pine for a long time to let that fumbled ball sit 2 feet from him and not even attempt to jump on it. Fumbling is one thing, but to literally allow the opponent to recover it without an attempt is atrocious.

Whats wrong with the Steelers?
Since Tomlin arrived we have history of losing to bad teams and winning to big teams-coaching! We should play everyweek to potential rather than playing to the team we play. No urgency, no desire to win… its all coaching!

Offense- losing starters hurts but this offense just stinks and I don’t put it all on Haley. Ben is throwing passes, receivers are giving up on routes, RB’s can’t go anywhere, 0 time to throw, no identity, Are we a run first team that can pass or a pass first team that can run? Right now we can’t pass or run so…. No urgency, no desire to win… Paulson might be the worst blocker in the NFL next to Suh… the difference is Paulson doesn’t hit anyone!!! Wiff after Wiff! Getting Miller back will help run and pass game tremendously!

Defense- lack of pass rush, terrible secondary! Why do you play 10yds off the ball on 3rd and 2? Why do you look for the hit instead of the ball? Could have had a couple INT’s if we went for ball instead of the hit. Its like we are allowing WR to catch the ball and then we tackle them rather than try to defend the pass, WTF! Polamalu isn’t playing Polamalu’sih until the last drive? What happened to the Flyin hawaiian? Hate to say it but after the drafting of Shamarko, we should have shopped Polamalu for a value trade while he still has value. He’s on the decline.

Ben and the Steelers have been to three Superbowls in nine seasons. Anything better than that is a fantasy in this age of free agency. Three Superbowls in nine seasons – I’ll take and stick with my team over any other team in the league. Take the good with the bad, ups with the downs. And we still have 6 Lombardi Trophies in Pittsburgh, more than any other city in the U.S.A.

Polamalu is gone come next season. He has not been himself the last two seasons and when he does come to the line he better blitz because he is too slow to get back in coverage and good qb’s make him pay. Dalton makes Flacco look like a second rate alley oop QB with the amount of jump balls he tosses up, nice defense in Cincy but that QB is the Achilles.

ruthlessburgher says:Sep 17, 2013 12:25 PM

Legit question for anyone who might know the answer: Why wasn’t Troy Polamalu blasting through the line at the snap and tackling Jake Locker for a 3 yard loss last week considered a sack?

The Steelers need to get Wheaton on the field more and put Sanders back in the slot again IMO. Getting Miller and Bell back will be a tremendous boost for the offense. If the refs quit calling bs tripping calls and the steelers quit turning the ball over they may actually score more points. Its obvious injuries to Pouncey, Miller and Foote are hurting this team again.

bigbensucks says:Sep 17, 2013 12:50 PM

@sixlombardisinyourface says: Sep 17, 2013 9:49
The so called “tripping” penalty on Beachum (it took the officials almost 30 seconds to discuss the call and the flag, like a few others in the game, should have been picked up and the call withdrawn) erased a 33 yard first down and some offensive rhythm but resulted instead a punt to the Bengals. In addition a flag that actually should have been thrown (unlike the “tripping” flag on Beachum) when Ben released a pass and a full second or more later was hit from behind by Bengal lineman and the official was standing less than 10 feet away.
________________________________
Let the excuses begin.
I’m shedding tears for you. Tears of joy that is………………………………………….. Do you remember all of the calls that went your way in the SB against Seattle when the refs handed you the game? Karma Baby. Enjoy your six rings. You won’t see any more.

I don’t get the Troy bashing? Cinci mostly stayed away from his area of the field all night. Clark, however, played one of his worst games that I can remember. Ike did a solid job on Green, but we need Allen back.
IMO, the biggest problem with the O is the play calling. I watched the Charger game and Whiz’s playcalling over there with a similar group and bad O-line is far Superior.

RIDICULOUS tripping call on Gilbert was a game-changer, for sure…folllowed up by the Ben no-call even though he clearly got hit in the face. 10 to 14 point swing right there.

The incompetent refs probably did the Steelers a favor. This Steeler team has the least talented group of skill-players since Bubbly Brister was runing for his life and chucking it to a bunch of nobodies.

Tiny WR’s who can’t separate, a RB who should change his jersey number from 33 to 1.1, to match his YPC…a well-rounded TE who won’t see the field for a few more weeks..ugly, ugly O.

bigbensucks says:
Sep 17, 2013 12:50 PM
@sixlombardisinyourface says: Sep 17, 2013 9:49
The so called “tripping” penalty on Beachum (it took the officials almost 30 seconds to discuss the call and the flag, like a few others in the game, should have been picked up and the call withdrawn) erased a 33 yard first down and some offensive rhythm but resulted instead a punt to the Bengals. In addition a flag that actually should have been thrown (unlike the “tripping” flag on Beachum) when Ben released a pass and a full second or more later was hit from behind by Bengal lineman and the official was standing less than 10 feet away.
________________________________
Let the excuses begin.
I’m shedding tears for you. Tears of joy that is………………………………………….. Do you remember all of the calls that went your way in the SB against Seattle when the refs handed you the game? Karma Baby. Enjoy your six rings. You won’t see any more.

1 2
Report comment. Obviously your team has suffered defeat at the hands of the steelers thus you are so butt sore you spew your hate and disrespect. It’s ok when you have six you know how tough it is to get there and stay there….you on the other hand have no clue. Good luck in your quest to to match us..also very original handle.

footballfan says:Sep 17, 2013 2:03 PM

If you look at the top 3 teams of the 2000’s, all of them are not looking all that great. The Steelers are nothing much more than a joke right now. The Pats are winning but once they actually play a quality team they will be going down quickly. Gronk won’t make that much of a difference. The Colts are 1-1 and looking to be average at best. Indy has the advantage because their rebuild began last year and Luck looks to be the real deal. The Pats and Steelers better get started soon!

cincyalldaway says:Sep 17, 2013 2:08 PM

@Steelers fans…Please stop the crying in your beer, Cheerios, hands, terrible towels, etc, regarding the tripping call or lack of any other call. Do you honestly think that yours is the only team on any given day to get a bad call? Your starting to sound like ravens fans! I’ll be the first to admit that the tripping call was a bad one, but it was hardly the reason for your loss. Yes it was a bad call, and yes you had some momentum, but you had momentum at other point in the game as well and your boys flat azzed blew it. They turned the ball over, Big Ben threw the ball everywhere except anywhere close to an open receiver. Personally, I think my Bengals played another bad game but it just happened to be hands down better than anything the Steelers could put out there. You got beat by a better team, plain and simple. You need to acknowledge it, like your coach did, and move on. Most of the issues are coaching. you need to FACE THE FACT that Tomlin came from his old position to being the head coach of a periennial playoff team, much like stepping out of a Yugo and into a Limo! Now that all or most of those great players are either in decline or already gone, he’s tasked with building a team of his OWN and a coaching staff and he’s failing miserably. Get rid of Tomlin and that joke of an OC in Haley, hire qualified people and get back to Steelers football. I don’t think those clowns can beat the Browns!!! Sorry if the truth hurts!

Joemontanaflacco says:
Sep 17, 2013 7:42 AM
No need to panic Steelers’ fan. Your offense is improving. You scored 3 more points than last week. Your defense is awesome. You only gave up 20 points and 127 yards rushing. Big Ben is clutch. He only threw one interception when it mattered the most. I wouldn’t worry about being completely shut out in the 2nd half. So, keep talking smack about the Ravens. At least you lead the NFL in that statistic.

35 18 Easy to talk smack about your team skippy but it’s not fair. You were in hiding during their stellar performance in Denver and as the King of spin and hypocracy are trying to ignore their rotten performance to date. Yes the steelers have lost, but they haven’t been PEYTONED. So spin little top spin….funny you say we talk trash…..mirror time troll.

crownofthehelmet says:Sep 17, 2013 2:27 PM

1. Haley has no idea what he’s doing.
2. The WR screen has never and will never work
3. Ben is still a top-tier QB in the NFL
4. Ike is the most underrated cover-corner in the league
5. without AJ as a crutch, Dalton is terrible.
6. if we played tomorrow, we’d put up 40 on the ravens.

crownofthehelmet says:
Sep 17, 2013 2:27 PM
1. Haley has no idea what he’s doing.
2. The WR screen has never and will never work
3. Ben is still a top-tier QB in the NFL
4. Ike is the most underrated cover-corner in the league
5. without AJ as a crutch, Dalton is terrible.
6. if we played tomorrow, we’d put up 40 on the ravens.

0 0
Report comment. Crown a little early for a beverage, eh? It will take time for this team to reach its potential and that may not be this year. The defense has kept it close and we haven’t been PEYTONED so there is some hope……but easy there big guy.

CKL says:Sep 17, 2013 2:40 PM

All-American Voltron says:
Sep 17, 2013 9:56 AM
As a non-Steeler fan from the outside it seems pretty obvious that the conflict between Ben and Todd Haley was the reason last year and no matter how many ‘friendship’ statements are released they are still not getting along in a professional manner.

Why not bring Ken Whisenhunt back? He’s collecting unemployment right?
_____________________________
Even if Whis were available (and as someone pointed out, he’s in SD) Ben complained about HIM too. Note how we never hear bad words about Ben from coaches, it’s always the other way around. Ben liked Arians because Arians let him run around and throw deep. Any coach who wants him to play the game above the neck and put restraints on him, he hates. It’s too bad for him because he’s cutting off his nose to spite his face. Being more disciplined would lengthen his career.

steel2372 says:Sep 17, 2013 2:49 PM

sixlombardisinyourface says: Sep 17, 2013 9:54 AM

Haley was a huge huge mistake.
Did anyone else see Ben waving back to the sidelines in frustration when players are coming into the huddle with plays ? It will never work between those two. Rooney, Tomlin blew it big time with letting go of Bruce Arians

Oh my god I love this. I have been laughing my a$$ off reading all the complaining and moaning about getting beat by the Bengals. I’m looking forward to seeing all the empty seats at Heinz field this year because Steeler fans are every bit as fair weather as any other team in the NFL.

unless field goals now count for 20 pts, i dont quite see the steelers putting up 40 on the ravens. sorry crown.

Deb says:Sep 17, 2013 3:04 PM

I can’t believe the call to bring back Whis got so many thumbs up when a) he’s the OC in San Diego, and b) as CKL points out, he didn’t gel with Ben either. Plus he’s not likely to want to work for the guy who got the head-coaching job he didn’t.

The complaint about Whis was that his offense was too complex and cerebral. Clearly that works for Phil Rivers. It did not work for a guy who likes to fly by the seat of his pants–which is exactly why Haley’s offense is failing. Ben has extraordinary natural talent. But as I’ve posted many times, he lacks discipline. Arians never required it, which was fine until the number of sacks Ben took started leading to more and more injuries. I thought Haley could force him to take a more disciplined approach that would cut down on the sacks, the injuries, and the interceptions. But it’s not going to work.

What’s worse, they’ve adopted a run-based offense without bringing in a power runner and redesigned the offensive blocking scheme with a boatload of inexperienced personnel. That’s made a bad situation unbearable. This may be our worst season since 1986.

crownofthehelmet says:Sep 17, 2013 3:08 PM

so let me get this straight jmf – Ravens loose and you’re nowhere to be found on these boards for days. Ravens win, you’re all over the boards gloating. You should go be a Jax fan.

To the 1 or 2 Cincy fans on this board. I wouldn’t count your Lombardi yet.

To the Steeler fans on this board – take a valium. It is still very early in the season.

That being said, this may be the least talented Steeler team I have seen in some time. The OL is terrible without Pouncey even though the sub did a credible job. The running game is non existent and there is no credible deep threat. That hangs on the front office.

Truth – you can’t make chicken salad from chicken snap and when you do it taste like chicken snap.

To my Ravens fans – the season will be written in the second half for us. We have the talent, but it will take a good 5 or 6 games before everyone is playing on the same page.

For some real fun go to the Post Gazette and read the comments by the fans. You would think the world is ending, the devil is ascendant, and the roof is full of people jumping off.

Bottom line – it is still a game run by billionaires, played by millionaires and supported by the 99 percent of us that couldn’t afford to drive in the neighborhood.

cfeeley52 says:Sep 17, 2013 3:46 PM

sixlombardisinyourface says:
Sep 17, 2013 9:49 AM
The so called “tripping” penalty on Beachum (it took the officials almost 30 seconds to discuss the call and the flag, like a few others in the game, should have been picked up and the call withdrawn) erased a 33 yard first down and some offensive rhythm but resulted instead a punt to the Bengals. In addition a flag that actually should have been thrown (unlike the “tripping” flag on Beachum) when Ben released a pass and a full second or more later was hit from behind by Bengal lineman and the official was standing less than 10 feet away.
—————————————–
Are you really trying to make weak excuses and blame the refs? The Steelers are not a good football team this year, they just lost fair and square to a division rival, DEAL WITH IT!

cfeeley52 says:Sep 17, 2013 3:56 PM

fsstnotch says:
Sep 17, 2013 11:44 AM
Steelers fan here!

Polamalu isn’t playing Polamalu’sih until the last drive? What happened to the Flyin hawaiian?
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Hawaiian??? Polamalu is Samoan, calling him Hawaiian is ignorant. And you call yourself a steelers fan…? SMH

cfeeley52 says:Sep 17, 2013 4:06 PM

Nofoolnodrool says:
Easy to talk smack about your team skippy but it’s not fair. You were in hiding during their stellar performance in Denver and as the King of spin and hypocracy are trying to ignore their rotten performance to date. Yes the steelers have lost, but they haven’t been PEYTONED. So spin little top spin….funny you say we talk trash…..mirror time troll.
—————————————
I really don’t mind you trashing JMF, I’m in agreement the kid is an uber troll that needs to go away. But I couldn’t let you get away with making fun of us for getting PEYTONED, I would much rather lose a regular season game to a future hall of famer than get TEBOWED in the playoffs!

cfeeley52 | Sep 17, 2013, 4:06 PM EDT
Nofoolnodrool says:
Easy to talk smack about your team skippy but it’s not fair. You were in hiding during their stellar performance in Denver and as the King of spin and hypocracy are trying to ignore their rotten performance to date. Yes the steelers have lost, but they haven’t been PEYTONED. So spin little top spin….funny you say we talk trash…..mirror time troll.
—————————————
I really don’t mind you trashing JMF, I’m in agreement the kid is an uber troll that needs to go away. But I couldn’t let you get away with making fun of us for getting PEYTONED, I would much rather lose a regular season game to a future hall of famer than get TEBOWED in the playoffs!
Feeling your oats on the last two posts there Feely. Of course you are doing what is so typically ravenish doing what you criticize others for doing. Tebow was how long ago? Being PEYTONED is so this year so you chose to ignore it….very ravenish and convient.

Crown a little early for a beverage, eh? It will take time for this team to reach its potential and that may not be this year. The defense has kept it close and we haven’t been PEYTONED so there is some hope……but easy there big guy.

————————————————————–

NoFoolTheTool, the Steelers haven’t been “PEYTONED” because they haven’t played the Broncos……………

bet update….after week 2, steelers are 30th in points scored, ravens are tied for 25th in points given up. and yes nofool…we got peytoned this year…no question. but if we are staying current why are you still bringing up a retired player every chance you get.

Joemontanaflacco says:Sep 17, 2013 6:30 PM

so let me get this straight jmf – Ravens loose and you’re nowhere to be found on these boards for days. Ravens win, you’re all over the boards gloating. You should go be a Jax fan.

I’m flattered I was so missed but what did you want me to say? We lost? Yes, we did. The defense fell apart in the 2nd half? Yes, it did. The Broncos are a good team? Yes, they are. Ravens have weaknesses that were greatly exploited? Yes, they do and they were. I still think Joe Flacco is a top five QB? Yes, I do. I hope to God we destroy the Steelers this year? I think you know the answer to that one. Personally, I didn’t think we’d beat the Broncos, but I felt it was probably better to get it over with now. Now…aren’t you bored?

bobzilla1001 says:Sep 17, 2013 7:14 PM

People who insist that Roethlisberger is a “top-tier” quarterback are people who either go on shopping sprees or clean out their garages on Sundays.
Roethlisberger has NEVER been required to carry a defensive-oriented team. Since he’s never had to do it, he’s not about to start now.
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are the ONLY top-tier QBs in the league. Even though top-tier QBs are few and far between, a team with a top-tier defense is far more likely to win a championship.

crownofthehelmet says:Sep 17, 2013 8:18 PM

Yes jmf, that’s exactly what you should have come on to say. That way you don’t sound like a foolish troll, but instead a knowledgeable, reasonable fan that still has pride in his team, whether bad at the time or not.

Deb says:Sep 17, 2013 8:32 PM

@sellout1983 …

Yes, I’m unhappy with my team’s decisionmaking. I’m unhappy that our quarterback has been overindulged because of his early successes and never required to play with the discipline that’s needed as QBs age. I’m sorry we’ve made a messy bed we’re stuck sleeping in this season. I’m sorry guys like Polamalu, Taylor, and Clark–who deserve to wrap up their careers playing with a decent offense–must suffer the indignity of this debacle.

But like the rest of Steeler Nation, I love my team win or lose. You may be a fair-weather fan. We’re not.

The Steelers have ALWAYS turned the ball over. They have always been a sloppy football team. It’s what kept them from advancing in the Playoffs ever since the Kordell Stewart years. If picks weren’t being thrown balls were being fumbled or they were incurring penalties. The reason they had success in the 2000’s decade was because they developed a shut down defense. Example: The 2007-2008 Super Bowl season when the Steelers were scoring defensive touchdowns every single game. Their defense forgave all their errors. The difference now is the defense is still good, but not what it was, and the team’s lack of offense is making the defense look even worse. Turnovers on our side of the field, turnovers in the red zone, penalties subtracting big plays. Losing Mike Wallace hurt, but he was only used in longer plays down the field to take advantage of his speed. The Steelers don’t seem to like to sign tall receivers, so he was not getting lob passes and plays in the middle of the field. And I’m going to get blasphemous here and call out Ben too. There was a time when he was a top 3 or 4 QB in the league. I don’t know that I’d put him in the top 15 now. I called his late game interception last night before he even threw it. Why? Because instead of making big time late game drives, he now just throws the ball to the other team. This happened last year when the Bengals knocked the Steelers from Playoff contention. What happened? Ben threw a late game pick on a big drive. 2011 Super Bowl, Steelers were on a game winning drive against Green Bay, Ben throws a pick and loses. This guy is done. I do not blame Mike Tomlin. He should not be expected to work miracles after the franchise cleans house with most of it’s top players. The Steelers will start to win some games come mid season or so, when they start getting healthy, but they are looking at a 6 win season.

Joemontanaflacco says:
Sep 17, 2013 6:30 PM
so let me get this straight jmf – Ravens loose and you’re nowhere to be found on these boards for days. Ravens win, you’re all over the boards gloating. You should go be a Jax fan.

I’m flattered I was so missed but what did you want me to say? We lost? Yes, we did. The defense fell apart in the 2nd half? Yes, it did. The Broncos are a good team? Yes, they are. Ravens have weaknesses that were greatly exploited? Yes, they do and they were. I still think Joe Flacco is a top five QB? Yes, I do. I hope to God we destroy the Steelers this year? I think you know the answer to that one. Personally, I didn’t think we’d beat the Broncos, but I felt it was probably better to get it over with now. Now…aren’t you bored?

2 0
Report comment. You weren’t missed in the way you might think. You were missed because you were a coward afraid to take the heat you so richly deserved. Talking trash is ok as long as you stand up to face the music when you lose. Dude, drop all the names you are hiding under.
Finally your belated admission of cowardly behavior has humanized you somewhat….your behavior from this point on will determine the content of your character. Good move dude.

Easy to talk smack about your team skippy but it’s not fair. You were in hiding during their stellar performance in Denver and as the King of spin and hypocracy are trying to ignore their rotten performance to date. Yes the steelers have lost, but they haven’t been PEYTONED. So spin little top spin….funny you say we talk trash…..mirror time troll.

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Honest question, do you seriously think your team would do any better against the Broncos right now?

cfeeley52 says:Sep 18, 2013 1:08 PM

Nofoolnodrool says:
I really don’t mind you trashing JMF, I’m in agreement the kid is an uber troll that needs to go away. But I couldn’t let you get away with making fun of us for getting PEYTONED, I would much rather lose a regular season game to a future hall of famer than get TEBOWED in the playoffs!

Feeling your oats on the last two posts there Feely. Of course you are doing what is so typically ravenish doing what you criticize others for doing. Tebow was how long ago? Being PEYTONED is so this year so you chose to ignore it….very ravenish and convient.
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At what point did i ignore being peytoned? I admitted to it in the very post you responded to. Oh well, if you insist on staying current then I’ll go ahead and say you just got BENGALED and when your going to bed tonight I want you to think about the very real possibility of being swept by the Browns…

Deb says:Sep 18, 2013 1:45 PM

@karla36 …

There’s no irony in the Steelers’ fans complaining about bad calls. All teams have been victimized by bad calls, and all teams have benefited from bad calls. No one team suffers or benefits more than another. But bad calls shouldn’t be allowed to change the trajectory of this or any game. A football fan with a thimble’s worth of game knowledge would know that. Mature fans also understand the officiating overall in the league has been deteriorating for years and that correcting those issues is to every team’s advantage.